Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-04-08
KUHRTs STREET BRIDGE.
The BEG inning OF the Investigs
ton of the COmtraCt.

tion of she Contract.
The Bridge Committee appointed at
the last meeting of the Council, met
yesterday afternoon with Mr.. Jones in
the Char and Messrs. Breed and Collins
and Mayor Workman present.
Mr.. Stearns stated that he would not
detain the committee long at the meet.
ing for the reason that he only expected
to state what he desired to prove. and
then the hearing would come at future
day.
Mayor Workman stated that he had
received telegram from Mr.. McMullin.
President of the Bridge Company, as
follows:
SAN Francisco, April 5.
Hon. W. Fl. Workman, Mayor.
Get committee 10 postpone investiga-
tion until Saturday afternoon. will be
present. We shall insist on full and
thorough investigation. Parties making
charges will have to prove them or suf-
ter the consequences. Wire us if we can
meet committee Saturday afternoon.
&c. MCMULLEN.
Mr.. Breed moved that action be post.
poned uut i'll o'c ock Saturday after.
noon. Carried.
Mr.. Stearns said that he wanted to be
fair. He desired to state his case. He
had no objection 10 letting the matter
lay over until the other side was ready.
He would like, however, 500 for attor.
ney's fees and other expenses. He did
not thir X that he should be asked as 1.
humble citizen to pay the expenses. 1t
should only be necessary for him to say
that there was o ''nigger on the fence, VI
and then the Council should take steps
to make all the neces ssary investigation
He desired to make his statement, and
it could be formulated and the other side
would know just what they would have
to prove. He had charges to make
against an offi;ial who was either incul.
pated or else had worked in the interest
Of the companies. He also thought it
would be neces sary to employ an attor.
ney to conduct his case.
Mr.. Breed thought it was not neces'
sary to EN-, 10y an attorney when there
was City Attorney.
Mr.. Stearns said that he had been tc
see the City Attorney, but he did moi
appear to bs anxious to take bis case
Besides, experts would he needed, and
while he should have had the assistance
of the City Engineer, be was arorfnd
| hunting some one to take the contract
or writing articles for the newspapers.
Mr.. Stearns was called TO order anG
MIR. Breed said that the city was invesli
eating the matter, and it was not mat
ter between Mr.. Stearns and the city
but between the city and the bridge
company.
Chairman Jones said he had asked the
City Attor ey to be present at the meet
ing, but be had not appeared.
Mayor Workman thought that Mr.
Stearns should be allowed his expenses
in making the investigation neces
sary, anu moved that he b.
allowed not more than $50. This wa
withdrawn after Mr.. Breed said that ex
penses should not be paid until it wa
ascertaired whether the charges wer'
sustained. Mr.. Stearns sal that he wa
perfectly satisfied if the City Attorne.
were instructed 10 take charge of hi
case.
Mr.. Breed moved that the City Attor
ney be requested TO give his atteptio,
and his assistance in the matter. Carried
MIR. Eaton wanted to know if the re-
marks made by Mr.. Stearns about hin
had been entered in the minutes a
charges. If they had not then he de
sired them so entered. If Mr.. Stearn
had anything to say about him he di
not want it said at random.
Mr. Jones thought that the committe
should instruct the Secretary not to ente
the remarks.
Mr.. Stearns said he would give Mr.
Eaton plenty of time before making tn,
charges. but they would be made sool
enough to suit him.
Moved and carried that names of wit
nesses be given the Secretary.
Mayor Workman moved that every
thing said in reference to Mr. Eaton bt
stricken out of the minutes.
Mr., Stearns requested that Mr.. Eaton
be summoned as witness with his fig
ures and estimates to snow how he could
give the cost of the bridge at $l2, SOC
some time ago and SIS, 500 now.
The City Attorney here entered and
said he woulii take charge OF the matter
and would consult with Mr.. Stearns and
prepare written charges. Adjourned to
Saturday at 2 o'clock, when it is the in
teption to carry the investigation as far
as possible.